The summer season started super early in Switzerland this year and it has been unusually warm for the last 6 weeks. Hey, I am not complaining at all. And it’s perfect timing because this is the first year we have decided to stay in CH for the whole summer to enjoy this beautiful Swiss Summer. With the warm weather, we have also been entertaining visitors non-stop and the BBQ/picnic invitations just keep on coming. This Watermelon, Cucumber, Feta Salad with Toasted Sunflower Seeds & Basil has become one of my favorite summer dishes and was served up by my sister-in-law on a beautiful evening in Basel. I have made it at least 4 times in the last two weeks because it’s just so good, light and refreshing. And I tell you, the TOASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS is a game changer to this classic combination of watermelon and feta. There are many more hot summer days and BBQs to come and hoping this salad will make it your table.

INGREDIENTS: (serves 6-8)

Toasted Sunflower Seeds:

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (5 ml)

1/3 cup sunflower seeds (40 g)

1 sprinkle of salt

1 sprinkle of sugar

Dressing/Vinaigrette:

1 tbsp dijon mustard (15 ml)

4 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (60 ml)

5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (75 ml)

2 sprinkles of fleur de sel (Maldon sea salt or kosher coarse salt)

freshly cracked pepper to taste

Salad:

2 large green onions or 4 small spring onions, finely chopped

1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded, halved lengthwise and sliced

1 mini seedless watermelon (approx. 2.3 lbs or 1.8 kg), rind removed and chopped into bite size pieces

7 oz. block of good quality Feta cheese (200 g), crumbled by hand

handful of fresh basil leaves, julienned

handful of micro greens (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 tsp olive oil on medium-high heat and add in the sunflower seeds. Sprinkle with salt and sugar and allow the seeds to toast until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl or serving dish, whisk together the dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly, to form an emulsion.
3. To your dressing, add in your thinly chopped green onions, sliced cucumbers, chopped watermelon pieces, and basil. Combine the ingredients with the dressing and allow to marinate for a few minutes.
4. Before ready to serve, toss in the toasted sunflower seeds, crumbled feta cheese and micro greens. Add a last drizzle of white balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and 1 pinch of fleur de sel. Toss your salad one last time and serve.

NOTES:

• I know this goes with out saying, but a good quality feta makes all the difference and I prefer it to buy it as a block and crumble it myself.

The first time I ever heard of the herb, Summer Savory or as they call it in German, Bohnenkraut, was when I moved to Switzerland. And it was only when I was introduced to this herb, green beans became exciting for me. Summer Savory and Green Beans are a match made in heaven and which is why they probably call it Bohnenkraut in German, which translates to Bean Herb (see more details on this herb in the notes part of the recipe).

With green beans in season, my mother-in-law’s Green Bean Salad with Summer Savory Herb & Sun-Dried Tomatoes is one of my summer staples and is a perfect side for a BBQ or a wonderful starter to a summer meal. To fancy it up, pair this salad with grilled piece of tuna. I assure you with this recipe, green beans will never be boring again.

INGREDIENTS: (serves 4)

1 lb. fresh green beans washed and trimmed (500 g)

1 tsp salt (5 g)

1 medium yellow onion finely chopped

1 garlic clove finely chopped

1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard (10 g)

4 tbsp apple cider vinegar (60 ml)

5 tbsp good quality extra virgin olive oil (75 ml)

2 tsp dried summer savory herb (10 g)

2-3 generous pinches of Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel

freshly cracked pepper to taste

4 sundried tomatoes thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wash and trim the green beans.
2. In a medium saucepan, add enough water to cover half of the beans and 1 tsp salt  and steam for 15-20 minutes until the beans are fully cooked but still have a bite. Once cooked, strain the water from the beans and set aside.
3. While your beans are steaming, finely chop 1 medium-sized onion and 1 garlic clove.
4. In a salad bowl, add your chopped onion, garlic, mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, summer savory herb, Maldon sea salt, freshly cracked pepper and whisk the ingredients together until the dressing has emulsified.
5. Add the warm green beans to your dressing and mix well.
6. Allow the green beans to marinate in the dressing for at least 1 hour (at room temperature) or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. The longer the better.
7. Thinly slice the sun-dried tomatoes and mix them into the green beans before serving and add another pinch of Maldon sea salt and another dash of freshly cracked pepper if necessary as the green beans tend to absorb the dressing.

NOTES:

1. This salad is best to serve at room temperature.
2. You can purchase the herb, summer savory or Bohnenkraut as a dried herb. Sometimes you can find it fresh in the summer time, but the dried form is more intense in taste and I prefer it since I always have it in my pantry.